What does it take to build one of the most influential data and marketing engines in global sport in a market defined by exploding fan demand, new consumption behaviors, and an unprecedented wave of private capital?
In this episode, host Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Gareth Balch, Co-Founder and CEO of Two Circles, the sports data and intelligence company working with more than 900 rights holders worldwide — including the NFL, NBA, Premier League, ICC, and World Rugby — and processing nearly two thirds of all global sports fan transactions.
Over the last 14 years, Gareth has helped usher sport into its third age of monetization: a world where audience attention, audience affection, and sophisticated data engineering shape the winners.
From why sport is the “world’s largest religion,” to how fragmented fan behavior is redefining the attention economy, to what it really takes to build a tribe that compounds, Gareth breaks down the forces powering today’s global sports boom.
For rights holders, private equity investors, and anyone focused on commercial growth in sport, this conversation reveals the playbook behind audience-led value creation, the economics driving white-hot investment, and why knowing your fans best is now the ultimate competitive advantage.
What You’ll Learn:
Timecodes
00:12 Guest Intro: Gareth Balch
03:18 The 6B–4B–1.5B Fan Economy
04:46 The Third Age of Sports Monetization
05:16 The Attention–Affection Model for Valuing Sports IP
06:04 Revenue Concentration: Top 20 Leagues Controlling 44%
08:06 Sports IP Forecast: Path to $260B by 2033
09:28 Breakout Performers: SailGP, CFP, The Hundred
10:04 Tribe Building: How Smaller Sports Create Outsized Value
11:18 Shooting Stars: IPL, UFC, NWSL Growth Flywheel
13:00 Women’s Sports: Unlocking the Commercialization Gap
16:32 Know Your Fans Best: The Ultimate Competitive Advantage
22:12 Leakage: Piracy & Value Lost to Platforms
24:00 Private Capital in Sports: Why the Category Is “White Hot”
27:52 Where Capital Flows Next: IP vs. Tech vs. Adjacencies
30:14 Predictive Analytics: Causation Over Correlation
33:32 Building a High-Performance Culture
36:36 Evolving the Ideal Hire: Attitude vs. Aptitude
42:06 Managing the Doom Loop: “Don’t Suffer Twice”
49:22 Lightning Round: Personal Reflections
Resources:
Gareth Balch:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethbalch/
Linnea Jungnelius:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius
X: https://x.com/itslinnea
Explore the Podcast:
Spotify: https://rebrand.ly/gareth-balch-spotify-podcastApple Podcasts: https://rebrand.ly/gareth-balch-apple-podcastBlog: https://rebrand.ly/gareth-balch-blog
Found Value?
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Website: https://www.acertitude.com
What does it take to build a top-performing growth equity firm in a market defined by hype cycles, capital oversupply, and shifting investor expectations?
In this episode, host Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Brian Neider, Managing Partner at Lead Edge Capital, a $5B global growth equity firm behind category-defining companies like Toast, Spotify, Alibaba, and Duo Security.
As one of the original builders of Lead Edge, Brian has spent two decades refining one of the most disciplined investing models in the industry — a framework rooted in focus, consistency, and an unrivaled network of 700+ operator LPs.
From staying “militantly” true to your strike zone, to navigating the aftermath of the 2020–2021 capital cycle, to separating real AI traction from experimental noise, Brian breaks down what great investors and great firms do differently. For growth equity investors, founders, and anyone responsible for capital allocation, this conversation reveals why discipline compounds, how strategy integrity drives DPI, and what it truly means to build a fund that becomes a company.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why staying in your strike zone is the most underrated competitive advantage in growth equity.
• How Lead Edge built a network of 700 operator LPs and activates them.
• How to evaluate companies in the post–“growth at all costs” era.
• What gross retention tells you that topline growth never will in regard to AI hype.
• Why exit pathways must be defined upfront.
• Urgency, clarity, and the ability to adapt without drifting are the best traits CEOs and teams can have.
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:18 Guest Introduction: Brian Neider, Lead Edge Capital
04:00 From “Grow at All Costs” to Profitable Growth
05:32 Lead Edge 8: The Metrics That Matter
08:30 LP Priorities: DPI, TVPI, and IRR
10:48 Why DPI Is Critical in Today’s Market
11:58 Exit Strategy Design: Defining Paths Upfront
13:58 Disposition Committee: The Overlooked Advantage
16:00 Filtering AI Hype: Experimental Spend vs. Real Retention
20:12 The Bucket Analogy: Understanding AI Churn
23:00 Founding Lead Edge: Building the LP Network Differently
26:10 Scaling the Firm: From All-Hands to Specialization
30:20 Activating the LP Network: How It Works in Practice
33:40 The LP Flywheel: Sourcing, Diligence, and Portfolio Support
36:00 Value Creation Capabilities: GTM, HR, and AI Support
38:12 What Great CEOs Do: Urgency, Adaptability, Action
41:54 Designing Effective Boards: Functional + Industry Balance
44:30 Building Executive Teams: The Power of a Rigorous Hiring Process
46:06 What’s Next: The Future of Lead Edge & Market Opportunities
51:58 Lightning Round: Personal Reflections
Resources:
Brian Neider: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-neider-7774041/
Linnea Jungnelius:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius
X: https://x.com/itslinnea
Explore the Podcast:
Spotify: https://acertitu.de/brian-neider-spotify-podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://acertitu.de/brian-neider-apple-podcast
Blog: https://acertitu.de/brian-neider-blog
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/brilliantpeoplepodWebsite: https://www.acertitude.com
What does it take to turn creativity into commercial growth in the business of sport?
In Episode 28, host Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Dan Migala, former Co-President and Chief Revenue Officer at Legends and one of the most inventive commercial minds in global sports and entertainment.
From changing first pitch times to 7:11, to transforming a foulpole into an 85-foot TaylorMade driver, to selling out 86,000 seats at the Women’s Cricket World Cup, Dan has built a career by breaking the mold.
He’s helped world-class organizations like the Chicago Bears, Real Madrid, and Oklahoma City Thunder reimagine how creativity, commerce, and culture intersect to drive growth.
For sports executives, private equity investors, and commercial leaders alike, this conversation explores how imagination becomes a competitive advantage, and why the best leaders think like creators, sell like strategists, and operate like owners.
What You’ll Learn:
• How to turn creative thinking into measurable commercial impact
• Why the best ideas are born from curiosity and the courage to ask questions
• How the Art, Heart, and Science framework transforms innovation intorevenue
• The Me–We–Go leadership model that builds alignment and culture
• What every commercial leader can learn from the future of women’s sports, private equity, and mixed-use development
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:12 Guest Intro: Dan Migala
03:30 Early Digital Play: Selling Sports on the Web
03:46 Innovation Moment: Building the Bears’ First Website
05:12 Leadership Lesson: Power of Private Questions
05:58 AI Parallel: Curiosity as a Competitive Edge
07:46 Sponsorship Breakthrough: The 7-Eleven White Sox Deal
09:30 Pitch Like a Pro: Confidence Drives Buy-In
10:00 The Art–Heart–Science Framework for Revenue Growth
11:00 Brand Alignment: Anatomy of a High-Impact Sponsorship
15:16 TaylorMade Case Study: $350M Earned Media Win
16:26 Leadership Playbook: The Me–We–Go Model
21:00 Women’s Cricket World Cup: Designing Demand at Scale
21:22 Cultural Relevance: Katy Perry & International Women’s Day Tie-In
23:52 Leading with Empathy: Evolving the Commercial Leader
29:16 CEO–CRO Trust: Slow Down to Speed Up
30:28 Private Equity in Sports: “Everyone Wants to Be First”
35:12 Building the Future of Sports: Mixed-Use, Tech, and Capital Convergence
45:36 Lightning Round: Personal Reflections
Resources:
Dan Migala:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/migala/
Linnea Jungnelius:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius
X: https://x.com/itslinnea
Explore the Podcast:
Spotify: https://acertitu.de/dan-migala-spotify-podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://acertitu.de/dan-migala-apple-podcast
Blog: https://acertitu.de/dan-migala-blog
Found Value?
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Website: https://www.acertitude.com
What does it take to build a value-creation engine that scales across portfolios, empowers CEOs, and blends purpose with performance?
In Episode 27, host Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Tory Ramaker, Senior Partner and Co-Head of Vistria PRG, LLC ("Portfolio Resources Group") at The Vistria Group, one of the private-equity industry’s most forward-thinking operating leaders.
From founding the PRG from the ground up to re-engineering how portfolio teams drive transformation, Tory shares what it really means to create impact in essential industries — where financial returns and societal outcomes go hand in hand.
For Operating Partners, CEOs, and investors alike, this conversation breaks down the next generation of value creation, grounded in partnership, empathy, and disciplined execution.
What You’ll Learn:
• How to architect a portfolio operations model that bridges strategy and execution
• Why management ownership, not investor direction, determines success
• The playbook for aligning boards, sponsors, and CEOs around one value-creation plan
• Why the best portfolio leaders blend consulting rigor with real operating experience
• The leadership balance between autonomy and accountability that builds lasting trust
Timecodes
00:00 Intro
00:15 Guest Introduction: Tory Ramaker, The Vistria Group
00:54 Early Lessons in Resilience and Adaptability
02:26 Learning to Influence: From Data and Logic to Empathy
07:13 Building the PRG: Founding Vision and Early Model
08:04 Evolving the Model: From Generalists to Functional Specialists
09:51 Portfolio Priorities: Technology, Talent, and Finance
11:06 Hiring Strategy: Product-Minded Tech Leaders and PE-Proven CFOs
11:45 Next-Gen Operating Talent: Consulting Rigor Meets Operating Experience
13:00 Operating Model Shift: Fewer Companies, Deeper Engagement
14:33 Value Creation Planning: It Must Be Management’s Plan
15:14 Execution and Measurement: Defining Success Metrics
17:03 Integrating Impact: Embedding Purpose into Value Creation
19:00 Partnering with CEOs: Building Trust and Candid Collaboration
21:03 Leadership Alignment: Autonomy with Accountability
22:35 Co-Investment Collaboration: Clarity and Over-Communication
23:46 Change Leadership: Applying AI and Data to Transformation
26:42 Capacity Discipline: Forced Scarcity and Strategic Resourcing
29:15 Leadership Standard: Autonomy with Accountability
31:39 Human Capital Playbook: Assessments, Coaching, and CEO Readiness
36:20 Leadership Evolution: EQ Over IQ
38:19 Lightning Round: Personal Reflections
Resources:
Tory Ramaker:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tory-ramaker-a077141/
Linnea Jungnelius:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius
X: https://x.com/itslinnea
Explore the Podcast:
Spotify: https://acertitu.de/tory-ramaker-spotify-podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://acertitu.de/tory-ramaker-apple-podcast
Blog: https://acertitu.de/tory-ramaker-blog
Found Value?👍
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/brilliantpeoplepod
Website: https://www.acertitude.com
What does it take to modernize a legacy sport, inspire global fans, and build commercial engines that stand the test of time?
In Episode 26, Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Jeff Price, Chief Commercial & Philanthropy Officer at the PGA of America, and one of the most influential architects behind golf’s modern growth story.
From transforming brand partnerships at Gatorade and MasterCard to reshaping how millions experience the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup, Jeff has built a career at the intersection of sport, business, and innovation.
His lessons apply far beyond the fairway: they’re about building trust, culture, and commercial momentum in any business facing disruption.
What You’ll Learn:
• How to turn sponsorships into lasting, growth-driving partnerships
• The leadership shift from instructing teams to empowering them
• Why understanding your “dual-habit” consumers drives sustainable engagement
• How to extend experiences beyond the venue and into culture
• Why focus and the smart use of AI defines the next wave of sports innovation
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:26 Guest Introduction: Jeff Price
1:09 Early Career & Lessons from Rejection
02:45 Career Journey: NBA, Gatorade, MasterCard
06:31 Startup Experience & Learning from Failure
08:43 Leadership Evolution: Empowerment vs. Instruction
10:16 Decision-Making & Strategic Frameworks
11:37 Joining PGA of America: Strategic Gaps & First Moves
13:15 Partnership Economics & PGA’s Commercial Strategy
17:10 Ryder Cup: Brand Unification & Global Growth
20:36 Commercial Innovation: Events, Experiences, and Media
22:51 Media Strategy: ESPN+ Streaming Deal
25:42 The Future: AI, Data, and Personalization in Golf
30:05 Building High-Performing Teams: The “We” Mentality
32:51 Commercial Leadership: Data, Social Media, and Revenue
34:01 Advice for CEOs & Commercial Teams
35:00 Personal Routines & Sustaining Performance
36:41 Sources of Inspiration & Industry Trends
38:01 Trends in Sports Business & Media
49:00 Lightning Round: Personal Reflections
Resources:
Jeff Price:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-price-24481318/
Linnea Jungnelius:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius
X: https://x.com/itslinnea
Explore the Podcast:
Spotify: https://acertitu.de/jeff-price-spotify-podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://acertitu.de/jeff-price-apple-podcast
Blog: https://acertitu.de/jeff-price-blog
Found Value?
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/brilliantpeoplepod
Website: https://www.acertitude.com
What does it take to transform a team, ignite a movement, and build a future that didn’t exist before?
In Episode 25, Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Dr. Allison Barber – trailblazing leader, ex-president of the Indiana Fever, and now the force behind Marvella Academy, the first-of-its-kind youth sports and leadership campus built entirely for girls.
From reimagining a professional sports franchise to shaping the next generation of leaders, Allison shares lessons from the locker room, the boardroom, the Pentagon, and beyond. Her stories reveal how vision, conviction, and the courage to show up, again and again, can create lasting impact in business, sports, and life.
What You’ll Learn:
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:11 Guest Introduction: Dr. Allison Barber
01:16 Transforming the Indiana Fever: Rebuilding & Strategy
01:39 Building a Championship Culture: The Three C’s
02:17 Leadership Lessons: Vision, Strategy, and Patience
04:34 The Caitlin Clark Moment: Preparing for Transformation
08:54 Building Belief: Fans, Culture, and the “Movable Middle”
14:17 Shaping a Winning Culture: Optimism & Fundamentals
16:55 What Matters Most in Leadership: Integrity
24:13 9/11: Leading Through Crisis
28:24 The Mission Behind Marvella Academy
34:17 Marvella’s Best-in-Class Approach
35:51 The Business of Youth Sports
39:57 What’s Next: Marvella Mobile & Campus Launch
40:54 The Surge in Women’s Sports: What’s Fueling It?
45:11 Advice for Women in Sports Leadership
49:20 Book & Podcast Recommendations
50:05 Marvella’s Legacy: Empowering Girls
52:58 Lightning Round: Personal Reflections
Resources:
Dr. Allison Barber:
Website: https://www.marvellasports.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-barber-phd-06201a2/
Linnea Jungnelius:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius
Explore the Podcast:
Spotify: https://acertitu.de/dr-allison-barber-spotify-podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://acertitu.de/dr-allison-barber-apple-podcast
Blog: https://acertitu.de/dr-allison-barber-blog
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Website: https://www.acertitude.com
What makes a truly great board? And what defines a life well-led? In Episode 24 of the Brilliant People Podcast, host Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Peter Browning, one of the most respected governance voices in America. With over 14 public company boards under his belt—including lead director roles at Nucor, Acuity Brands, and ScanSource, plus 16 years on the board at Lowe’s—Peter brings a rare depth of experience and perspective to the conversation.
He shares the board-level decisions that matter most, from CEO succession to crisis leadership, and the personal stories that shaped his approach to communication, transparency, and resilience. It’s a deep dive into how leadership is built through pressure, listening, and connection—long before the boardroom.
What You'll Learn:
– The 3 questions every board must answer
– What most boards get wrong about CEO succession
– How to lead through bankruptcy, crisis, and culture change
– Why the best directors listen more than they speak
– How climbing mountains and running plants shaped his edge as a leader
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:11 Peter Browning: Corporate Legend
01:35 Living Life as a Contact Sport
14:57 Inside the Boardroom: ScanSource, Lowe’s & More
16:42 Sales Trainee to CEO: Sonoco, Continental Can, National Gypsum
22:18 Earning Trust Across 300 Plants, 36 Countries
24:38 Bankruptcy Playbook: Reinventing National Gypsum
29:59 Listening as a Leadership Advantage
35:16 Modern Boardroom: From Rubber Stamp to Strategy Engine
40:46 Great Lead Directors Influence Without Authority
43:36 CEO Succession: Making the Hardest Calls
47:32 Board Chemistry: Trust in High-Stakes Rooms
51:49 When, Why & How to Replace a CEO
54:58 Earning Your Seat as a New Director
01:04:07 Favorite CEOs, Leaders & Books
01:08:31 Lightning Round: Family, Focus & Living Fully
Resources:
Peter Browning:
Website: www.peterbrowning.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/peter-browning-4421454/
Linnea Jungnelius:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius/
Explore the Podcast:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4q2SyG7jTqV109lC37RtOV
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-people-podcast/id1582636185
Blog: acertitu.de/peter-browning-blog
Subscribe and rate the show: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/brilliantpeoplepodcast
Stay Updated on Acertitude:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/acertitude/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCaRywuMZMbDfHR77TyzEQZQ
Instagram: www.instagram.com/acertitude
Website: www.acertitude.com
For Charlie Turano, legacy isn’t just nostalgia. It’s strategy. As Executive Director at Heritage Werks, Charlie is helping pro sports teams, leagues, and now even universities unlock the untapped power of their history—not just to preserve the past, but to propel the future.
Before that, he co-founded Genesco Sports Enterprises, shaping it into one of the industry’s most respected corporate representation firms, advising global brands on how to maximize their presence in sports. But it all started with the Dallas Cowboys, where Charlie got his first taste of the business side of sports, an experience that sparked a career defined by innovation, storytelling, and the pursuit of enduring value.
What You'll Learn:– How to turn your team's history into a high-ROI brand asset– How to drive fan engagement and revenue with digitized legacy content– The power of cutting through the noise with story-driven brand campaigns
Resources:
Charlie Turano:
Website: https://www.heritagewerks.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-turano-7605302/
Linnea Jungnelius:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius/
Explore the Podcast:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4q2SyG7jTqV109lC37RtOV
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-people-podcast/id1582636185
Blog: www.acertitu.de/charlie-turano-blog
Stay Updated on Acertitude
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/acertitude/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCaRywuMZMbDfHR77TyzEQZQ
Instagram: www.instagram.com/acertitude
Website: www.acertitude.com
Today, as Go-to-Market Operating Partner at Sixth Street, Paul brings both commercial operator chops and deep empathy to help CEOs, CROs, and deal teams turn strategy into sustainable results.
He doesn’t do playbooks. He does pattern recognition. His approach is high-trust, high-discipline, and highly customized. Whether he’s transforming revenue orgs or coaching commercial leaders, Paul shows up like an athlete: focused, gritty, and committed to continuous improvement.
Today, as Managing Director of Technology and Digital at CD&R, Chris helps companies do the hard work behind “digital transformation” with no buzzwords, no shortcuts, and a sharp eye on what the business actually needs.
His path has been anything but linear. But the throughline is clear: build great teams, make bold decisions, and lead from deep in the trenches.
Before Jimmy Holloran was leading talent strategy for a $16B private equity powerhouse, his path ran through classrooms, consultancies, portfolio companies, and boardrooms—and, in the very early days, behind the bar at his family’s Irish pub in St. Louis.
Today, as Talent Partner at American Industrial Partners (AIP), Jimmy is reshaping what it means to drive value through people. He built the firm’s talent function from the ground up—advancing it from Talent 1.0 (better hiring, structured feedback), to Talent 2.0 (proactive leadership development, early diligence, a repeatable CEO playbook). Now, he’s laying the groundwork for Talent 3.0: a full-cycle leadership engine anchored by the Alpha Lab to grow and promote the next generation of C-suite talent.
As Founder & CEO of WestRiver Group—a thematically driven investment platform that funds and builds companies across the global innovation economy, and Vice Chairman of Topgolf Callaway Brands, Erik has led and scaled some of the most iconic and forward-looking brands in sports, tech,and entertainment.
Under his leadership, Topgolf became a globalphenomenon, reimagining how people connect through play. He’s also a recognized visionary at Singularity University, where he helps organizations embrace exponential technologies to tackle complex global challenges.
Ram Charan, world-renowned business advisor, has spent decades inside boardrooms guiding CEOs and leadership teams through transformative decisions. Fortune calls him "the most influential consultant alive," and for good reason - his insights on leadership, strategy, and talent development have shaped the course of global businesses.
Joining him in conversation is Kevin O’Neill, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Acertitude, a firm dedicated to unleashing human potential through executive search. Together, they delve into the forces shaping today’s business landscape and what separates great leaders from the rest.
From professional basketball to private equity, Rob Delaney's journey is as diverse as it is impressive. Now Managing Director at Carrick Capital Partners, a growth-oriented investment firm, he is laser-focused on helping entrepreneurs scale their software and tech-enabled services companies, with a keen eye on the payments space.
In this dynamic episode of the Brilliant People Podcast, Rob joins host Linnea Jungnelius, Global Head of Marketing & Strategy at Acertitude, to unpack:
-Focusing on the critical few factors that move the needle in business
-Building unshakable trust with management teams
-Carrick's value creation playbook, showcased through DailyPay's meteoric rise
-The role of artificial intelligence in private equity and portfolio companies
-Maintaining peak performance and keeping your “monster" in check
Mark Fiske, seasoned marketeer and master of digital, is Operating Partner and Head of Digital Transformation at H.I.G. Capital, one of the largest and most influential private equity firms in the middle market, managing $65 billion in capital across a portfolio of over 100 companies. In his role, Mark drives the digital transformation strategy and co-leads the Generative AI practice, partnering with portfolio management to accelerate value creation. Before making his mark in PE, Mark led the marketing teams at fast-growing powerhouse brands like Ancestry and Credit Karma.
In our latest episode of the Brilliant People Podcast, Mark joins host Linnea Jungnelius, Global Head of Marketing & Strategy at Acertitude, to explore:
-The evolution of the operating partner role and its impact on growth
-Proven marketing strategies for driving scale and success
-Navigating the shifting landscape of the modern CMO
-Harnessing Generative AI as a powerful tool for value creation
Ben Humphreys is a Senior Operating Executive at Monomoy Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on the middle market. The firm recently closed Fund V, exceeding its initial $1.6 billion target to close at an admirable $2.25 billion.
Ben has journeyed through many of the world's elite organizations, including investment firms like BlackRock and Cerberus along with enterprises like General Electric.
Leveraging rich experience as both operator and operating partner, Ben takes a hands-on approach to partner with portfolio management and transform companies at Monomoy.
On this episode of the Brilliant People Podcast, Linnea Jungnelius, Global Head of Marketing & Strategy at Acertitude, sat down with Ben to share his toolkit approach to value creation. The show covers Ben’s strategic frameworks for organizational change, recruiting winning leaders, building strong partnerships, and what allows him to show up and be his best self.
Jerry Hughes is the Director of Commercial Excellence at American Securities, a leading private equity firm in the U.S. with $27 billion in committed capital. With typical equity investment ranging from $300-700 million, Jerry has the exciting remit of scaling sizeable industry players and capturing market share.
With a career that’s revolved around the persistent pursuit of growth, Jerry has the tested ideas and tools that strengthen sales and marketing capabilities – and achieve business results.
On this episode of the Brilliant People Podcast, Linnea Jungnelius, Global Head of Marketing & Strategy at Acertitude, was priviledged to sit down with Jerry to share some of those with you.
The show also covers the American Securities approach to value creation, Jerry’s views on the big value unlock of AI in sales, and what inspires him to work and live life to the fullest.
Dominic is Managing Director and Head of Digital & AI at Bridgepoint, Europe’s leading middle-market growth investor with €43 billion euro of assets under management. As part of the Operational Support Group, he is a force for advancing digital, dispersing collective wisdom, building brands, and driving growth.
David Acharya is the Managing Partner of Acharya Capital Partners, a New York City-based PE firm that buys and grows lower middle market companies.
He discovered his passion for the independent sponsor model after progressing over 25 years as a private equity investor with a fund, and investment banker on Wall Street, thriving in the pace of change, alignment, and impact that he's able to bring forth. David also serves on the Board of ACG Global, the community for middle market deal-making.
Over the last 20 years, Farhan shaped and pioneered some of the most visible and successful digital transformations in the consumer and financialsectors, holding leadership positions with Ahold Delhaize, McDonald’s, Bank of America, and Target.
As chief digital officer of Ahold, he cracked the code on digital change for its 20 brands. It’s no surprise that when Ahold acquired FreshDirect, he was asked to serve as interim CEO and pivoted the company from survival mode to growth mode.
Farhan took the private equity plunge in 2021, today an operating partner at BayPine, a private equity firm with an unrelenting focus on modernization that invests in core-economy, market-leading businesses. His rare vantage point from holding roles as Operating Partner, CEO, and Chief Digital Officer give him an edge in delivering digital capital and guiding portfolio leaders.